Parlando: The COC Blog

4/17/2015

12 Things to Know: The Barber of Seville

By Nikita Gourski

Spring isn't the only thing brightening up the days in Toronto! We're listing the top 12 reasons you can't miss seeing our production of The Barber of Sevillefrom the brilliant and hilarious minds of the Els Comediants production team!

Featuring one of the most recognizable scores in the entire operatic repertoire, Gioachino Rossini's The Barber of Seville has become the most performed opera worldwide. You can learn more about this classic comic masterpiece through our Listening Guide.

1. A MUSICAL PRODIGY

Rossini was born in 1792 in Pesaro, a seaport town on the Adriatic coast. Growing up with musician parents—his mother a soprano; his father a horn and trumpet player—he was immersed from a young age in the bustling, often chaotic world of Italian opera houses, in which a new work might be composed, rehearsed, and performed within the span of only a few weeks. By his early teens he was already a polished musician, studying at the conservatory in Bologna, and composing original works, including opera.

Artist Basics: Joshua Hopkins

Canadian baritone Joshua Hopkins has captured the attention of critics worldwide for both his voice and dramatic ability. Josh has performed across North America and Europe to captivated audiences, and will soon be singing on the Four Seasons Centre stage in our upcoming production of The Barber of Seville!